Method of making an ornamental fabric



July 20, 1965 Filed June 20, 1962 IZVWNTOR. ESTEPHAN D. ESTEPHANIAN By Wm? MM ATTORNEYS y 20, 1965 E. D. ESTEPHANIAN 3,195,489

METHOD OF MAKING AN ORNAMENTAL FABRIC 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1962 INVENTOR. D. ESTEPHANIAN Q ESTEPHAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent "ice 3,195,489 METHOD GI MAKING AN @RNAMENTAEL FABRIC Estephan D. Estephanian, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Estehar, Inc, Manchester, N.H., a corperation of New Hampshire Filed June 20, 1962, Ser. No. 203,824 1 Claim. ((31. 112-266) This invention relates to an ornamental fabric and to the making of such a fabric. The fabric comprises two layers, which are stitched together, the lines of stitching forming ornamental designs. The top layer is gathered so that the surface of the fabric is entirely puckered into small puffy bulges in the spaces between the lines of stitching which join the layers and form a pattern. The lower layer of the fabric is extensible in all directions and is preferably heavier than the top layer. The latter is preferably thin and flexible, and may also be relatively inextensible.

The ornamental fabric is suitable for Womens articles of clothing, particularly swimsuits. To be smoothly form-fitting, womens swimsuits are preferably made of elastic yarn knitted to form front and rear panels which are stretchable in all directions. According to the invention, each knitted panel is given a two-way stretch and held in the stretched position while a layer of thin tricot is stitched thereto by lines of stitching which are made to form ornamental designs. After the stitching is completed, the stretched knitted panel is released so that it contracts and gathers the thin tricot layer which has been stitched to it, causing the tricot layer to'pucker over its entire surface.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description there of, and to the drawings, of which FIGURE 1 is a photographic plan view of a fabric embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a two-layer fabric mounted on a frame ready for stitching to hold the layers together; and

FIGURE 3 is a section, on a much larger scale, on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

A rectangular frame is indicated in FIGURE 2 to support one or more swimsuit panels 12. A longitudinal series of such panels may be continuously produced on a knitting machine and cut apart along transverse lines 14 at the ends of the individual panels. A series of three such panels is shown in FIGURE 2. To the side and end edges of the series of panels are stitched pieces 16 of relatively inextensible fabric having edges 18 which are complemental to the edges of the panels to which they are stitched. The panels 12 and attached pieces 16 of the fabric are subjected to longitudinal and lateral tension in being applied to the frame 10 so that the panels are stretched both ways and held in such stretched condition on the frame by pins 20, hooks or the like on the frame. A single longitudinal series of panels is shown in FIG- 3,195,489. i atented July 20, 1965 UB5 1, but with a wider frame, two series 12 can be joined side by side by an intermediate piece of inextensible fabric to stretch both series of panels when tension is applied to the marginal pieces of attached fabric.

When the assembly of panels 12 and marginal pieces of fabric 16 have been mounted on the frame 10, a top layer 22 of flexible fabric is smoothly applied to the assembly and is held in place by any suitable means such as the pins 20. The top layer 22 is preferably but not necessarily a thin fabric such as a shear tricot. After the top layer 22 has been smoothly mounted on the panels and marginal pieces, they are joined by a stitching machine which is preferably constructed to make ornamental lines 30 of stitching, a pleasing flower design being illustrated in FIGURE 1.

After the stitching 3! has been completed, the assembly is removed from the frame 10. This relaxing of the tension permits the stretched panels 12 to contract both longitudinally and transversely. As a result of the contraction of the panels, the top layer of flexible fabric 22 is caused to pucker or cockle between the lines of stitching, forming small puffy bulges 32 as shown in FIGURE 1. When the marginal pieces 16 and the portions of the top layer 22 which overlie them have been trimmed away along the edges of the panels 12, the latter are then ready for further processing in the making of completed swimsuits.

I claim:

A method of ornamenting a knitted panel for a knitted swimsuit which is extensible longitudinally and laterally, which comprises stitching to the edges of the knitted panel pieces of relatively inextensible cloth having edges complemental to the edges of the panel to which said pieces are stitched, applying tension to said pieces of cloth to stretch said panel longitudinally and laterally, overlaying the stretched panel with a layer of thin flexible fabric, stitching said layer to said stretched panel by lines of stitching forming an ornamental design, releasing the stretched panel, and trimming said pieces of inextensible fabric from the panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 857,968 6/07 Wertheim 2--278 1,606,899 11/26 Rockwood 2-293 1,994,385 3/35 Chudner 112-422 2,134,630 10/38 White 2-67 2,142,336 l/39 Selinger 1l2414 2,165,469 7/39 Fellegi 112--414 2,341,596 2/44 Cobb 2--67 2,564,959 8/51 Carallo ll2-4l4 2,854,669 10/58 Cohen 2-67 2,957,512 10/60 Wade et al.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS J. HICKEY, RUSSELL C. MADER,

Examiners. 

